Advocacy 101

• Be personal and professional (don’t burn any bridges)
  • Email
  • Call
  • Visit (local district office and Austin)
  • Provide them with your contact information

• Staff member who handles the issue you are interested in
• Call the office to find out who this is.

• During Election!!!
• Don’t forget to vote EVERY time there is an election
• During session
  • When bill is being considered throughout the process
• In between sessions
  • View this as a long-term process
  • Get to know office staff

• Search on Texas Legislature Online (word or bill #)

• Create an account on Texas Legislature Online (My TLO) and then you can do the following:
  • Create a list of bills you want to track
  • Set alerts to notify you or changes to bills
  • Use your mobile device to gain information
  • RSS feed for legislative activity

• How TCEA can assist your efforts with technology related issues
  • Review legislative issues
  • Respond to pleas from TCEA and ETAN alerts
  • Sign up for TCEA Advocacy Twitter and Blog
• Legal limits
  • Follow district guidelines and intent
    • Can inform but not push for passage of particular bill
  • Can always contact as an individual citizen
    • Use individual email
    • Contact after hours
    • May identify yourself as a Texas teacher